Health Benefits of Yacon Syrup

Our body needs sugar. We constantly consume sweets but it is important to note that taking in processed white sugar is not beneficial to the body. It does not contain the nutrients that the body needs to function properly. There is however all natural yacon syrup sugar that can provide many benefits to the body, yet still tastes delicious. It is made from the yacon root, and it is getting very popular in recent times for several very good reasons.

These yacon plants originate from South America in the Andean valleys. The roots taste sweet so many individuals eat it like a fruit crop, while many people now use it as a sweetener since it was made into a sweet syrup. This yacon root syrup sweetener is healthy since it has a very low glycemic index rating. The glycemic index is a measurement of how fast blood sugar levels go up after eating a certain food. Moreover, the syrup has been proven to have various health benefits.

Here are some of the many benefits that the yacon root syrup provides to the body:

a. Maintains healthy blood sugar management & weight loss - Since yacon syrup has a low glycemic index, this makes this sweetener a good alternative to sugar, especially for diabetic people. It helps lower the blood sugar in the body due to the effects of the fructooligosaccharides it contains. These fructooligosaccharides are a natural fiber that the body cannot break down and because it is not broken down, it does not provide any calories to the body. There was a study conducted that involved some obese volunteers who were resistant to insulin ingesting two doses of yacon syrup daily. The doses contained 0.14 grams and 0.29 grams of fructooligosaccharides per kilogram of body weight. The results were that at the end of 120 days, the participants had lower levels of fasting insulin on average. However, the levels of fasting blood sugar were not affected. Furthermore, according to the study, the syrup suppressed appetite and promoted weight loss.

b. Helps promote healthy digestive system - yacon syrup improves the digestive health of the person as it acts as a prebiotic as well. Meaning it stimulates all the good bacteria in the gut, improving digestion and immune system functioning of the person taking the natural yacon root syrup. Additionally, this sweet tasting syrup has been found to have a "washout effect" as facilitates regular bowel movements.

c. Helps promote healthy liver – taking yacon syrup together with silymarin helps treat a diseased liver and maintain a healthy liver, as it lowers the levels of blood sugar and cholesterol in patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is responsible for increasing chances of diabetes and heart disease, among other serious diseases. In a study conducted recently, participants consumed 0.8 g of silymarin and 2.4 g of yacon root for 90 days. According to results, this combination supplement prevented the accumulation of fat in the liver and improved cholesterol levels.